JUDGE RULES IDENTITY OF POLICE OFFICERS THAT INVESTIGATED FABRIC MUST BE MADE PUBLIC

A judge has reportedly ruled that the Metropolitan police should not be able to keep the identity of the undercover police officers that investigated fabric nightclub ahead of its closure a secret.

The Metropolitan police sent a request to district judge Robin McPhee, arguing that a loss of anonymity for the officers involved with Operation Lenor, which produced a report that was used heavily in the licensing hearing that saw the Farringdon venue closed, would put their safety at risk.

“If I had a power to withhold names and serial numbers of officers it would be wrong of me to exercise that power,” McPhee said. “I find no real safety implications and no real evidence that they will not attend court to give evidence.”

Islington Council’s official statement listed 11 bullet points to justify the decision to revoke fabric’s license at a hearing last month (September), with eight of them relating to Operation Lenor.

However, the undercover investigation found no hard evidence of drug taking at the Farringdon venue, instead using vague statements including those that people at fabric were “manifesting symptoms showing that they were (on drugs). This included sweating, glazed red eyes and staring into space,” and that they saw “people in the smoking area enquiring about the purchase of drugs...I believe within earshot of the security officer.”